Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad

Name: Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 1 head Romaine Hearts (cut in half); 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 1/2 lemon Fresh Lemon Juice; Parmesan Cheese (shaved); Steak Seasoning such as McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning; Additional Toppings

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Indulge in the unexpected flavors of a 7-minute Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad with charred romaine, fresh lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan.

7 Minute Grilled Romaine Lettuce Salad

I know cooked lettuce probably doesn't sound like something you would usually crave. But trust me when I tell you, this simple recipe is crave-worthy.

The first time I ate a version of this salad was at Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri which happens to be an amazing old-school steakhouse near me. I left that night thinking about how I would work to recreate it as soon as I could get home.

This 7 Minute Grilled Romaine Lettuce Salad is one of my favorite things. A perfect quick, healthy side dish or base for a main dish salad.

roasted romaine lettuce salad with parmesan cheese on top.

Ingredients for Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad

There are so many topping options to add to this warm salad. I'm sharing the basic topics and some suggestions that I hope inspires you to make this salad your own.

Romaine Hearts, cut in half - The dense structure of the head of romaine makes it perfect for this technique.
Olive Oil
Fresh Lemon Juice
Parmesan Cheese, shaved
Steak Seasoning such as McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning - alternatively use sea salt, fresh cracked black pepper, and garlic.
Optional: chopped pecans or walnuts, feta cheese crumbles, blue cheese crumbles, croutons, bacon crumbles, pickled red onions, green onions, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, etc.

ingredients for roasted romaine lettuce salad.

How to Make Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad

Oven Roasted Romaine

On cold days, I love being able to roast a head of romaine in the hot oven. Plus, I can do enough for everyone on one sheet pan.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Using a sharp knife, cut romaine hearts in half lengthwise through the core keeping the halves intact.
Brush both sides of lettuce halves with olive oil and sprinkle with steak seasoning.
Place the cut side of the lettuce on a sheet pan or cast iron skillet and roast until the lettuce starts to char slightly.
Remove to a serving platter squeeze fresh lemon juice and sprinkle shaved parmesan cheese over top. Enjoy halves of romaine immediately.

cutting romaine lettuce head in half for salad.

adding steak seasoning to cut the romaine head.

Grilled Romaine Salad

If you're having grilled meat, why not a grilled salad, too? Throw it straight on the grill for a super easy side dish that is totally next level and will impress your guests.

Preheat your outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
In the meantime, cut romaine hearts in half lengthwise through the core keeping the halves intact.
Brush both sides of lettuce halves with olive oil and sprinkle with steak seasoning.
Place the cut side of the lettuce on the hot grill pan or grill grates. Grill until lettuce starts to char slightly.
Remove to a serving platter squeeze fresh lemon juice and sprinkle shaved parmesan cheese over top. Enjoy halves of romaine immediately.

Top Tips

Make sure the lettuce is completely dry before roasting or grilling. Extra water on the leaves will create steam making the lettuce soggy.

FAQ

Why grill romaine lettuce?

Grilled lettuces get slightly softened centers and charred edges creating fantastic complex flavors.

How do I wash romaine lettuce?

Rinse lettuce under running water or swish around in a large bowl. For this recipe we want the lettuce head intact, so be gentle.

How do I dry romaine lettuce?

Drying lettuce heads thoroughly before cooking or storing is essential. I like using my salad spinner. But you can also budle it in a large, clean kitchen towel and grasp it tightly while spinning the whole thing in a big circle. This uses gravity to remove the excess water.

How do you shave parmesan cheese?

I like using my vegetable peeler for nice thin shaved parmesan. But you can use a paring knife as well. Just take your time.

Variations of Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad

There are endless ways to use Roasted Romaine Lettuce. Here are a few flavor combinations that turn a side salad into a main course.

Grilled Chicken and Roasted Romaine Salad - Top grilled or roasted romaine with grilled chicken breasts and add toppings of your choice.

Grilled Caesar Salad - Omit the lemon juice and top with Caesar dressing instead.

BLT Salad with Roasted Romaine - Top roasted romaine halves with chopped bacon and fresh tomatoes for a fantastic summer salad.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Roasted Romaine Salad - Add crumbled bacon, ranch dressing, halved grape tomatoes, red onion slices, and grilled chicken.

Serve Alongside

Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin or Sous Vide Whole Chicken are ideal main courses for this salad.

Grill a Rodeo Burger, Sweet and Spicy Bacon Burger, or Porky Burger, and then use the hot grill to roast the romaine.

For a comforting option, pair it with One Pot Lasagna Soup.

Storage

This salad is best eaten immediately so only roast or grill the amount that will be eaten. The good news about this is that it's fast and simple to make fresh.

roasted romaine lettuce with steak seasoning on top.

So many recipes so little time!

Pairing

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

Lastly, if you made Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a 5-star rating!

I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.

And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and Facebook.